Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest

From 75 contestants the first year to over 1,000 participants this past season, the Shakespeare contest has become a much anticipated annual event.

This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to experience the excitement of live performance while learning the works of William Shakespeare. The contest is open to students in grades 4-12. Students may enter the monologue, scene or both portions of the contest in either the upper division (grades 8-12) or the lower division (grades 4-7).

Coaching sessions are conducted in January and February in the schools and at the O'Reilly Theater. Contestants present their pieces on the Public's main stage in front of a panel of judges, and those who advance to the final round of the contest have the opportunity to perform at the Showcase of Finalists.

All participants receive a contest t-shirt and a voucher for two complimentary tickets to a Public Theater production. The Public also offers free orientation sessions for first-time participating teachers and their students.

Monologues should be 25-60 lines long.

Scenes should not exceed 5 minutes. (Please adhere to this frequently overlooked guideline!)

Monologues and scenes must be memorized.

Prompting of any kind is not permitted.

All scene performers must be active participants.

Costumes and props are to be kept to a minimum, and set pieces are discouraged.

Judging Criteria for Scenes and Monologues

Understanding of the text

Emotional connectedness

Character development

Physical and vocal performance

Pacing and the interaction amongst the actors in a scene

Suggested Monologues and Scenes

Over the years of conducting the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest, we have assembled a list of suggested scenes and monologues that work well with student performers: some of them well-known, some less so. We recommend that you take a close look at this list when choosing a scene or monologue to present for the contest.

The list of course is not exhaustive. You may also choose a scene or monologue that is not listed here. In your search, look closely for selections that fit our length and time requirements. A good scene or monologue has a clear beginning, middle and end. It’s obviously part of the overall play, but it’s important that it can stand on its own as a performance piece. In addition, think about a monologue as a speech that a character delivers to a silent or absent listener. This character may want to share her feelings at that moment, or to explain what he thinks about what has happened so far in the action.

Do you have a great idea for a Shakespearean scene or monologue that should be added to our list? Let us know!

What People are Saying about the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest

"Students sometimes view Shakespeare as remarkably dull and inaccessible. But Shakespeare Competition participants know better. They search out the perfect scene: the drunken sandbag dual, the washed ashore coffin containing an undead beauty, bad actors putting on a play to impress royalty. Then they bring that scene to life, filling the characters with quirks and peccadilloes, defining action (swordfights, swoons, stumbles, the arched eyebrow, the pregnant pause), then action with words, well-enunciated words that can actually be heard by the judges. It's creative. It requires teamwork. It's a whole lot of fun, and not for the faint of heart." - Peg Boyd, Parent

"The staff's commitment to introducing Shakespeare to a younger generation is enormously inspiring. The individual attention paid to each and every performance [during the contest] is remarkable. Kids develop an appreciation for classical theater, and they enjoy it. I've gained wonderful memories, friendships, and performance opportunities that I will never forget." - Lara Hillier, Shakespeare Contest Participant and Four-Time Winner

"The Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest has been, without doubt, the highlight of my entire theater experience in junior high and high school. I have learned more about the performing arts from my participation in the program than from any other source. Pittsburgh Public Theater dedicates a lot of time and effort to the education of young people." - Simon Brown, Shakespeare Contest Participant and Winner

"To be able to get up and perform on the amazing O'Reilly stage is a cool thing all by itself. But then you add Shakespeare to that! Although the language is old, Shakespeare could never get old--not when the stories are still relevant and there are kids like me participating in the Shakespeare competition. This competition is a wonderful opportunity for students to truly try something new." - Meggie Booth, Shakespeare Contest Participant